Lead Service Line Replacement in Chicago: What Homeowners Should Know

What a service line is

The service line carries water from the city main under the street to your water meter or main shutoff, usually in the basement at the front of the house. In Chicago, many homes built before the late 1980s were connected with lead pipe. Some lines were partly replaced over the years, so a house can have a mix of materials — copper inside, lead toward the street, or galvanized steel in between.

How to check your own line

Find the pipe where water enters the house, just before the meter or main shutoff. Lead is dull gray, soft, and turns shiny silver when gently scratched with a key or coin; a magnet won't stick to it. Copper looks like a penny. Galvanized steel is gray and a magnet will stick. Don't scratch hard or bend the pipe.

In plain language: a quick look can give you a good guess, but pipes are easy to misidentify, so have a plumber confirm it. We can check and photograph it for your records.

City programs and your responsibilities

The City of Chicago runs lead service line programs, and the details — who qualifies, what's covered and how to apply — are set by the city and can change. We don't promise eligibility or funding. Check the city's current program information directly, and review the city's water quality report. We can help you understand what applies to the private side of your line and what the work would involve.

Replacing a service line in Chicago involves permits and coordination with the city's water department, and the work runs from the meter area out toward the street.

How Right Away helps

We identify the line where it enters, photograph it, and look at the meter area, shutoff and interior piping that would connect to a new line. If you decide to replace it outside a city program, we explain the scope and give you a written quote. If you're waiting on a city program, we can still help with interior plumbing that would need updating.

While you wait, some homeowners ask about point-of-use filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction; look for that certification on the product. Call 773-250-6060 to have your line checked.

What we check

• Service line material where it enters the house
• Meter area, main shutoff and valve condition
• Interior piping connected to the service
• Photos for your records
• Access from the basement toward the street

More on this service

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